As a foreign national, can I take my motorbike to India on a 5 month trip there?

India is a signatory to the International Custom Convention and the ATA Carnet Convention and allows import of motor vehicles into India without payment of customs duties.

‘Triptique / Carnet De Passage en Douane’ is a travel document for the purposes of temporary importation of private road vehicles into India by a tourist, free of duty. This document is issued by an approved Automobile Association abroad. Carnet de Passage and Triptique are identical in purpose, except that Triptique is meant for a single country while the Carnet is for more than one country.

This facility allows you to bring your motor vehicle into India free of customs duties for a period of six months. The motor vehicle has to be re-exported from India within this period. Import of Tourist Buses is also allowed subject to certain conditions.

Extension of the Retention period: Only the Central Government has the powers to extend this time frame of retention of the motor vehicle in India and this extension is very rarely given and that too under exceptional circumstances. The initial period of six months is extended for another six months only if the Carnet book is valid till such time.

The tourist’s passport will be endorsed when a vehicle is cleared under Carnet/Triptique. Such an endorsement will also clearly mention the exact date by which the vehicle is to be re-exported.

If tourist has to travel out of India temporarily, the vehicle must be deposited into a customs bonded warehouse. When the tourist returns, such vehicle will be handed back to him. Under no circumstances, can or should a tourist leave the country leaving behind his vehicle unattended or with a friend or relative.

Documents Required for Customs Clearance:

Importers Original Passport

Original Carnet book / Triptique

Original Shipping Documents (Bill of Lading/Air Way Bill)

List of any extra fittings in the car along with their values.

A letter addressed to Commissioner of Customs for Non Gainful Employment.

Insurance Policy.

If the motor vehicle is not re-exported for any reason the customs will demand duty, fines, and penalties as applicable. Re-export of badly damaged vehicles shall not be required in case of fully authenticated accidents, provided the vehicles:

are subject to import duties and import taxes to which they are liable.

are abandoned free of all expenses to the Exchequer of the country in which they are imported.

are destroyed, under the official supervision at the expense of the importer as the Customs authorities may require.

Author of this tip Mr. Yogesh Thakker is based in Somerset, New Jersey (USA) and is an expert on ’relocation to India’. For any questions, you can reach Yogesh at info@21crinc.com.

Hello,
I’m a Indo-Canadian living in Canada, I have a 2500cc tri-motorcycle (Slingshot), I wish to take it along with me on a vacation to India for a period of 4 months. Please can you guide me with the custom procedure, tarrif and other requirements? I request you to email me your feedback to raokartik18@gmail.com. Thank you.

Hello im from Qatar and need to take my motorcycle harley davidson to india for a road trip of 1 month and would like to bring it back with me. Will i be charge any customs or its free and how to proceed with the documentations.

currently I am living in new zealand and i want to take my car to india during my holidays for a period of 3 months. the car is 2002 model nissan, so please give me some details regarding the rules and formalities related to above post. any advice should be appreciated

Hi, I am a Canadian national with overseas citizen of India card holder. Can I take my 4year old car from Canada to India. I am planning to be in India for the next 5years.do I have to pay duty and how much is it. Regards, Badhri

I have read this article with interest. Can my brother import such a bike and keep the foreign registration number on it and allow me to ride the bike for up to 5 months while he tours India by plane.He will re export the bike within 6 months. If there is a foreign registration number on the bike and I am caught riding it without my brother being there what can the authorities do to me (my intention is to tour India on this heavy but comfortable bike with a Dubai number plate).an Agent told me that I must have a temporary Indian number plate but these are only valid for 30 days.Please reply to me urgently as holiday season is coming up shortly.regardsJustin